Activating Change

Did you know that Activating Change provides qualified, trauma-informed remote sign language interpretation services – free of charge – to any victim service provider in the United States? We know how challenging it can be for victim service providers to find qualified interpreters for Deaf victims of crime. Not having interpreters is the number one hurdle faced by these individuals as they seek services. We are here to help close that gap. This service is provided directly by Activating Change, using safe and secure technology, and has been in the pilot stage for the last year. It has already made a significant difference in people's lives, and is now available to any victim service provider working with a Deaf survivor. “(Activating Change) literally gave this client her freedom, her safety, and a peaceful future for her and her children.” — Victim Service Provider Learn more or make a request at https://lnkd.in/gQ44E4aX

Did you know that Activating Change provides qualified, trauma-informed remote sign language interpretation services – free of charge – to any victim service provider in the United States? We know how challenging it can be for victim service providers to find qualified interpreters for Deaf victims of crime. Not having interpreters is the number one hurdle faced by these individuals as they seek services. We are here to help close that gap. This service is provided directly by Activating Change, using safe and secure technology, and has been in the pilot stage for the last year. It has already made a significant difference in people's lives, and is now available to any victim service provider working with a Deaf survivor. “(Activating Change) literally gave this client her freedom, her safety, and a peaceful future for her and her children.” — Victim Service Provider Learn more or make a request at https://lnkd.in/gQ44E4aX

Register now for our January Events: January 21: Know More, Do More: Recognizing and Responding to Stalking Among Victims with Disabilities Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous, and often misunderstood crime. For victims with disabilities, stalking can be even more complex, with additional barriers to seeking help, increased vulnerability, and unique challenges in safety planning. Attendees will learn to identify stalking behaviors and dynamics, recognize the intersection of stalking with other crimes, and apply strategies for working with survivors with disabilities who have experienced stalking. January 29: Effectively Investigating Cases Involving Trafficked Survivors with Disabilities People with disabilities are targeted at higher rates than their peers for exploitation and/or abuse, including trafficking. Traffickers deliberately target individuals they know they can isolate and control and both individual and systemic conditions increase the risk for people with disabilities. In an effort to address some of these gaps, Activating Change, in partnership with the National Human Trafficking of People with Disabilities Working Group, has developed an in-depth training for law enforcement on effectively identifying and responding to trafficking cases involving victims with disabilities. Learn more and register for both at https://lnkd.in/gx3QAJKV

Help us shape the future of services to survivors from underserved communities. The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims, a project of Activating Change, is conducting a 15-minute survey to help us better understand what opportunities exist to increase victim services and justice options for survivors from underserved communities. Take our survey here: https://bit.ly/3Vzc5iq

Introducing Activating Change’s free Sign Language Interpreter Service for Deaf Victims We are proud to now provide qualified, trauma-informed remote sign language interpretation services using safe and secure technology – free of charge – to any victim service provider in the United States. We know how challenging it can be for victim service providers to find qualified interpreters for Deaf victims of crime. Not having interpreters is the number one hurdle faced by these individuals as they seek services. We are here to help close that gap. Please share widely with your networks, we would like to reach as many Deaf survivors as we can with this service. To learn more and read the experiences of organizations that have used the service, visit https://bit.ly/494Te4l

The Deaf community experiences domestic and sexual violence at significantly higher rates and survivors often face numerous barriers that hinder their ability to seek help. Many service providers lack the necessary training to effectively respond to and support the unique needs of this community. To help professionals working in domestic violence and sexual assault programs, law enforcement, and healthcare providers, we are offering a two-part webinar as part of our Enhancing Access Promising Practices Series that will provide essential information on the unique challenges faced by Deaf survivors, and present strategies to more effectively serve this community. Part 1 will be Introduction to Working with Deaf Survivors, presented by DeAnna Swope, Senior Program Associate at Activating Change Part 2 will be Supporting Deaf Immigrant and Refugee Survivors, presented by Diana Pryntz, Executive Director of the Deaf Refugee Advocacy Center Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/gWmdtB7W

Thank you to National Legal Aid & Defender Association for inviting Activating Change's Kaitlin Kall to participate in the organization's 2024 Annual Conference this week and present on representing clients with disabilities and from the Deaf community. We are honored to have been among those speaking at this year's event and left feeling energized and inspired.

Request for Proposals: Activating Change is seeking a video production partner. To address the gaps in best practices around interviewing adults with intellectual disabilities, Activating Change, in collaboration with project partn End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI), will develop a toolkit for law enforcement interviewers. This toolkit will include a collection of short educational videos and demonstration videos, to compliment the written portions of the toolkit. We have identified the need for 16 videos. Additional information is in the RFP: https://bit.ly/3CqZ0AZ

Please join us on Tuesday, November 26 at 2PM East for the webinar Guardianship Essentials: Scenarios, Solutions, and Strategies. Guardianship is a factor in the lives of adult survivors with disabilities that would not be a factor for adult survivors without disabilities. For some adults with disabilities, the courts have appointed replacement decision-makers in their lives, having deemed them incapable of making some critical decisions. In this webinar we will offer foundational information on the basics of guardianship of adults with intellectual disabilities, including solutions and paths forward to help service providers better plan for their policies and procedures on guardianship. Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3YNhF1q Registration for our events closes one week before the event to ensure we can meet all accessibility needs.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the U.S., during which organizations and individuals bring attention to the epidemic of domestic violence. This year’s theme is Heal, Hold, & Center. Survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors face physical, programmatic, communication, and attitudinal barriers. These barriers stand in the way of them getting support. For survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors whose identities intersect with other marginalized groups, these barriers are even more extreme. It is critical that these voices are not just centered, but actively sought out by advocates. Activating Change has several resources for organizations that provide services to survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors, as well as for organizations recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Visit our blog for more: https://bit.ly/3NxqCq8